Thanks to Steven, John, Marcus, and Lou for their input. We have solved the problem here.
Tried the French cup, and failed, as expected. Then we realized that I have right here, another Torpado (mid range) that I believe to be from very late 1986, or even from the end of the end at Torpado, who closed the doors I think in early 1987. We pulled the crank on this other bike to reveal markings on the bottom bracket cup: 34.8x24!!! Never seen that before, but this is Italian (Metric) for "English threads". We broke loose the fixed cup, and sure enough it's left, or English threaded. So, we grabbed a Campy English fixed cup, and gave it a shot on the Superlight, and sure enough it's left, or English threaded! Now I'm not sure how I came to the conclusion late last night that the fixed was right threaded, but I know I checked it a couple of times!!! Obviously, I was too long working on the bike, and up too late at night.
So, the answer, is that some if not all Torpados, began to have English threaded bottom bracket shells near the end of the line for them, and as early as 1986. Thanks for all the help!
Ciao, Mark Agree Southfield MI USA ~ ~ ~
In a message dated 1/24/2007 2:32:27 PM Eastern Standard Time, smwillis@verizon.net writes: My guess is you have a British threaded shell. I just check my old memory banks and you can drop a British threaded cup right through the bb shell on an Italian frame. It slides right in. It may be French but My bet would be on British. I have also seen screw ups were people have tapped frames the wrong way around take a look for any damage and good luck with it. Steven Willis The Bike Stand 1778 East Second Street Scotch Plains NJ 07076 908-322-3330 http://www.thebikestand.com
> Italian bottom bracket shell conundrum:
>
> Subject is a 1986 Torpado Superlight frameset, being built up with a
> mostly
> mid 1980s Super Record gruppo. The selected cranks and bottom bracket
> however, are Ofmega brand that are Campy Record clone-ish (very similar,
> but not the
> same). The bottom bracket cups are clearly marked 36 x 24, for Italian
> threads, which means that both sides are "right" threaded. The frame is
> used, but
> well cleaned and in very good condition, seemingly with original paint
> that
> matches remnants visible inside the bottom bracket shell. This same paint
> is
> still on the b.b. shell faces ... the contact points for the cup flange or
> lockring, and where it has flaked, chrome plate can be seen underneath,
> still ON the
> face.
> The cups will not quite fit inside the shell opening, although the
> difference seems VERY close. An English threaded Campy adjustable cup was
> tried on
> the non-drive side as a test, and it thread in several turns before
> binding.
> This same piece also threads into the drive side, in exactly the same
> partial
> manner, before binding. I did not use a tool to force it in either side
> any
> further, for fear of doing damage. The bottom bracket is Cinelli, as it
> is cast
> with CINELLI underneath. All Torpado b.b. shells I've seen have been
> Italian
> threaded, but the width on this one is not the expected 70mm ... it is
> 68.5mm! I noted by comparison that the outer diameter of English cups is
> slightly
> smaller than that of Italian cups. My thinking is that an English shell
> can be
> tapped "out" to Italian, since Italian is a larger OD, but that there is
> no
> meat, just air, where one would attempt convert Italian to English. Is
> this
> true?
> If the paint and chrome on the face of the b.b. shell are original, then
> it seems to me that it could not have been turned down to the narrow
> width,
> after-market ... it must be from the factory. I am about to perform a
> test with
> French threaded cups, which seems crazy, but we know that anything can
> happen.
> I submit this conundrum to the List for suggestions of a solution ....
> HELP PLEASE!
>
> Ciao,
> Mark Agree
> Southfield MI USA
> ~ ~ ~